Life & Work with Techianna Camara M.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Techianna Camara M.

Hi Techianna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I feel like there are so many chapters to my story, and it is still be written. For times sake, I will briefly detail how I got started in my career as a self-taught graphic designer & branding stylist. My mom bought our first computer when I was in first grade (2001) & ever since the early 2000’s I had been obsessed with graphics and creating stuff on the computer.

Before we got our internet connect, the only thing we could do was play computer games or use the built-in apps loaded on the computer. The first design program I remember using was called “PrintShop”, I think. I used to play around creating posters and business cards just out of boredom, even though I had no idea what I was doing.

During Myspace era, was when my design curiosity got the best of me again. I had no idea what I was doing was called graphic design, but I was OBSESSED with having the best Myspace page, so I would scroll for hours looking for custom html codes, those “blingee” texts that were animated gif’s that would sparkle, those little flat 2D dolls that came in every skin tone and used to wear the flyest Y2K outfits. They were soooooo cute to me! So I’d literally sit and try and figure out how to code them into my myspace page or create them from scratch. I had gotten so good at this, on top of completely making over my page every few days, I would design my friends’ Myspace pages & make them custom blingee graphics.

Progressing into the early 2010’s, Myspace was dead & I needed a new platform to use to display my creative talents, so I found Tumblr. It changed the game for me for creating my graphic designs. Of course by 2010-2011, everything on the computer was more modern, by now there were phone apps that allow you to put text on images. So I used to take cool images and put text over them hoping that I would gain popularity. I think back then one of my posts ended up getting 20,000 notes[likes]! It was bananas & I was hype! But it was just a hobby.

Most of my professional background resides in customer service & retail, I had done that for 7-8 years maybe. My last job I worked at was in 2017 & it was Trader Joe’s & bud tending. I quit both of my jobs cold turkey Because I was so tired of doing labour with a little to no recognition or money. I am A Sagittarius so being held down at a job and the whole waking up early and uniform thing has never been for me.

I tried using some money I saved up to start businesses but each one was a fail. It wasn’t because of lack of motivation but more so a lack of funds. I was so good at creating business names, I would create logos for them, business plans, a marketing plan, basically anything startup related to launching a business. Well after all that was said and done & I factored in the budget, I was like damn If I had maybe an extra $4,000 this business would be a goldmine, lol.

Needing money to launch, at the time was my loungewear brand, I decided to instead use those same business-minded talents and take formal classes to learn Digital Marketing & Community Management. Not only did I need the money for my loungewear brand, but also because I knew that would be one of few jobs where I can work from anywhere in the world there is WiFi. During one of the last courses I took before I completed my courses, it touched basis on graphic design and how important it is to business.

I struck GOLD. I had realized all these years of creating computer graphics, and creating logos for my failed businesses, that what I had been doing all this time was graphic design. I just for some reason, never thought I could do it as a career and make money, but luckily for me, I realized I would be able to make money doing something I love and that I can be creative. Plus, having the option to be freelance and work on my own time was what I was looking for. I googled how much graphic designers can make per year, working for freelance and agencies and after that, it was a wrap.

I didn’t take any courses for Photoshop, I am completely self-taught with a little help from Youtube. It was so odd to me though, because I got the gist of Photoshop within one week or two having no prior experience. It takes most people months and years of college courses to do half of the things I was able to do. My first time being on Photoshop, it was like I already knew what to do & how to do it, which is crazy because if it’s your first time seeing the Photoshop interface, you will 100% be overwhelmed and lost, lol.

I created a couple of logos, business cards and branding kits to add to my portfolio & my first month working professionally, I made a little over $1,000. Fast forward two years, not only have I built a robust portfolio, I launched a 2nd graphic design studio, Far Out Fetch, & I am in the finishing works of my own online graphic design course! I am actually going to launch my loungewear brand early next year & I am currently working on another project creating merch stemming from my digital art portfolio.

I truly love and am passionate about what I do. I 100% believe graphic design is my life purpose in this lifetime. I have helped over 100 women start or rebrand their businesses not only by graphic design but also offering business advice & making the necessary resources available through vendor lists and ebooks. I’m barely getting my feet wet though, I feel like. I definitely have huge plans and goals set for myself and my business these next few years!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I wish I could say it was easy, but it wasn’t. Was it simple though? Reflecting back on my journey, yes. I’m sure most people can relate when I say that one of the main struggles was my mental health. I used to suffer from depression for eight years, from 2011 – 2018. I have been working as a professional graphic designer since late 2019 and I still feel the remnants of depression ever so often; I have recovered but I am human.

I learned through self-awareness & meditation that I have to be stronger than my current thoughts and reality. But it’s easier said than done because one minute I am coasting through work, coming up with ideas off the top of my head & the next minute, I realize I’ve been stuck on the same project that usually takes three days, for two weeks.

On top of that, another obstacle I face is “creative block”, the same way writers get writer’s block, I do have moments where I am at a loss for ideas for a project, no matter how much inspiration I look at. And it sucks, especially because some of my best designs I come up with at the drop of a dime, so it’s kind of gentle a slap in the face when I’m looking at Inso for hours and can’t come up with anything lol, but I have learned not to be so hard on myself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently specialize in graphic design, branding & digital art. I can do anything in almost any niche and any style within graphic design. Ranging from logo design, product labels, web designs, t-shirts, posters; you name it, I can most likely do it.

I’ll include photos of the various type of work that I do because it’s something I can’t explain through text but visually, you will understand, lol.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Actually yes, I would like to wish abundance & a positive mindset to anyone who is reading this. I want to tell you that I am so proud of you & I hope that you never give up on your dreams.

For more info, to book my service or get in contact with me here are my links!

Main Business Instagram @TechiannaDigital

My 2nd Design Studio – Instagram @FarOutFetch

My Digital Art Portfolio – Instagram @Texhianna

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.techiannadigital.com
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/techiannadigital